Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Wrongful Death Attorney

Unintentional injuries are all too common. In fact, the CDC puts that number at nearly 147,000 deaths per year. Not all involve direct blame on someone else. Sometimes accidents just happen. However, accidental injuries are the leading cause of death for those under 24, with medical errors being the third leading cause of death overall, after heart disease and cancer.

The sudden death of a loved one can tear families apart and bring on intense emotional turmoil. Pursuing legal action may feel very low on your priority list right now, but we can’t stress enough how important it is to discuss your options with a San Bernardino wrongful death attorney. The longer you wait, the higher the chance that crucial evidence could be lost, damaged or destroyed.

Wrongful death cases are sudden, unexplained, and traumatic as a result of negligent, careless, and even deliberate actions of another. These cases are about as complex as they get. You’ll need a highly skilled team of wrongful death attorneys to handle your case.

Here are some helpful questions to ask before hiring a wrongful death attorney.

What is Your Experience?

Your attorney should have a long track record of counseling clients, settling with insurers, and litigating wrongful death cases similar to yours. Hiring a San Bernardino lawyer with many years of experience will show longevity in a highly competitive business that gets more so every day. A wrongful death lawyer who can rise above the rest and offer consistently successful outcomes for clients over several years displays staying power and skill.

You want to look for an extensive knowledge base that shows a particular attorney has the tenacity to argue your case aggressively to get maximum compensation for you and your family. Be on the lookout for a good communicator, too, as that shows an ability to negotiate. Ask any lawyers you are considering what their specialty is. Most wrongful death lawyers operate under the umbrella of personal injury attorney, which means they handle a wide spectrum of PI cases such as motorcycle accidents, dog bites, and slips and falls. This is very common; however, you do want a lawyer who handles a fairly large percentage of wrongful death cases.

What is Your Success Rate?

Take a look at the lawyer’s success rate in handling cases like yours. This should be a main question to ask before entering into an agreement with a San Bernardino wrongful death lawyer. Reputable attorneys won’t have a problem divulging the number of cases they have successfully argued – as well as the ones they have lost.

What Do You Charge?

Depending on the firm, wrongful death attorney fees can vary widely. In general, low-ball rates are red flags. Skilled lawyers with solid reputations in the community will charge competitive rates that reflect their track record. Rates that are too high may be way out of your price range. Settle somewhere in the middle after getting quotes from at least three area attorneys. In the end, you should get a pretty even blend of high-quality legal representation at a reasonable cost. Most attorneys don’t even charge you up front anyway – only if you win or settle.

What is Your Goal for my Case?

From defective products to medical malpractice, there are many root causes of wrongful death cases. How your attorney handles your case will depend on many factors, including personal litigation style, the parameters of your unique case, and the complexity of the case. Here at Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accidents Lawyers, we give you a free consultation first. When and if we determine that legal action is justified, our team will begin collecting detailed information about the case, exploring the circumstances leading to the accident, and performing an independent investigation into the cause of death.

Contact Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accidents Lawyers

It’s normal to be hesitant in seeking legal advice in the wake of a loved one’s sudden death. However, calling for a free consultation will give you peace of mind so you’re not left wondering: what if? Once the dust clears and you realize the insurance company’s paltry offering has already run out, leaving you holding the bills, you’ll wish you had taken action earlier. We want to help you bypass that regret. Take a few minutes of your time now to see if you have a case. Call the San Bernardino wrongful death attorneys at Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accidents Lawyers at 661-945-6969.